Another regulator to monitor care homes and trusts

Another regulator to monitor care homes and trustsThe new combined health and social care regulator will be able to fine and close organisations for poor performance, under leaked proposals from the Department of Health. Under the plans for Ofcare, which will come into being in 2009, it would be able to close health trusts on the “balance of risk”, placing a duty on local health authorities to maintain continuity of care.Source:- The Times, Friday 8 June 2007, page 33

Welfare reform callThe Conservatives have announced plans to force the long-term unemployed into work and outsource employment support functions to the private sector, in a bid to outflank Labour on welfare reform.Source:- The Times, Friday 8 June 2007, page 3

Paedophile rape report suppressed to protect a killer’s right to privacyThe Parole Board has declined to release findings of an internal review into the release from prison of a convicted murderer who then went on to abduct and rape a 10-year-old boy, to protect the offender’s right to privacy under the Data Protection Act.Stephen Ayre was freed in 2005 but raped the boy the following year, while being monitored by the probation service. After admitting the offence, he was told he would die in prison.Source:- The Times, Friday 8 June 2007, page 3

Hain resurrects spectre of higher tax rate for the richLabour deputy leadership candidate Peter Hain has called for a debate on whether the government should impose higher taxes on the rich go cut inequality, breaking a taboo set by the party leadership on discussing the issue. While saying he would not call for a higher rate himself, the Northern Ireland secretary said there was “pent-up” frustration in the Labour Party about the leadership’s refusal to discuss the issue.Source:- The Times, Friday 8 June 2007, page 13

Give new fathers a month off with pay, says ministerChildren’s minister Beverley Hughes will call for paid paternity leave to be doubled from two weeks to a month in a speech today, to help families in the first few weeks of a child’s life. The proposal would cost £43m.Source:- The Times, Friday 8 June 2007, page 22

Hints of a baby boom as fertility rate hits higest level for 26 yearsThe fertility rate has risen for the fifth consecutive year, according to new figures, a trend which economists claim could help rebalance the population and lessen the impact of the ageing population. The figures show that the fertility rate rose from 1.8 babies per woman in 2005 to 1.87 in 2006, with a particular rise among migrant mothers.Source:- The Guardian, Friday 8 June 2007 page 11

Scottish news

Justice secretary plan to track sex offenders with satellitesA full range of measures – including satellite tracking and lie detectors – could be brought to bear on sex offenders who go into hiding, justice secretary Kenny MacAskill has said.He added that these technical measures would be looked at, as well as already agreed methods such as posting identities and photographs of those who abscond or breach conditions.But he rejected Labour’s call for DNA samples for all crime suspects to be kept by the police.Source:- The Herald, Friday 8 June 2007

Welsh news

Charity scam couple jailedA businessman who took hundreds of thousands of pounds from people under the pretence that it was for disabled children has received a six year jail sentence.Trevor England, from Maesywern, Carmarthenshire, and his business partner Mary Johnson, who founded Catch (Care and Action Trust for Children with Handicaps), stole at least £522, 000 in donations over four years.Source:- Western Mail, Friday 8 June 2007

Man jailed for battering girlfriend to deathA man who battered his partner to death was found guilty of murder yesterday and jailed for life.Gary Kirkham, 50, fractured Theresa Kelly’s nose and eye socket and left her for dead. He didn’t call paramedics to their home in Pontypridd until his partner had been dead for up to three days.Kirkham had a long history of domestic violence against his partners.Source:- Western Mail, Friday June 8 2007